Post by Flytrap on May 12, 2006 15:50:58 GMT -5
I thought I'd start up a new thread and talk about the do's and don'ts of shipping and receiving CPs.
In the 70's, mailorder took forever, but permits were practically unheard of, and it was easy to order for flytraps and have it delivered to your front door.
It's a bit more complicated now.
I had just recently sent out an order for plants from overseas and was *surprised* at the paperwork involved. I think I will leave this thought for another post and later share my experiences here with all of you...and ask the same from the rest of you.
Packing. These days, I can safely state that it's easier now with couriers and Xpress post to ship things quickly within our nation, but there are a few things we still should be aware of. First is that the cargo hold in an airplane can get quite cold (a thousand feet up in the air is still freezing temperature...even in our summer). So it's a good idea to insulate tropical CPs with some insulation wrap. The other thing is not to leave the plant in too dry a state when shipping it out. It's best to prime the plant a few days with moisture (prior to it's uproot/cutting), and then if the plant is large enough, dip it in a fungicide solution before shipping it out. A good technique that's been used recently is to slightly dampen a paper towel and zip lock 'baggie' up the CP and moist towel to maintain the moisture for the plant to survive the long trip. But don't make the towel sopping wet...else you'd end up with rotting leaves, or worst, a rotted plant.
Cleaning. I know that some of you who have received some of my plants will laugh at me ( I hear you over here Sib!) will say my plants are a bit "dirty"...and yes, I am guilty of not cleaning my plants before shipping it out. But I do have to admit that it's nice to not get traps full of dead bugs So unless stated otherwise, it's good courtesy to clean your plants before sending them out to the recipient.
Labelling. don't forget to mark your plant - I used to use a jiffy marker to write the name of the Nep onto one of it's leaves. Yes, check your spelling. A Nep. villosa is not the same as a Nep pilosa.
Courtesy. Follow through with your agreed commitments. If you can't ship it out, or if it's delayed... communicate this to your intended trade partner. There's nothing worst then to feel that you've been "screwed".
Communications. Always agree in advance the size of the plant so you don't get in return, a tiny plant for something you just sent a massive multi-headed Cephalotus for. And indicate if the plants are cuttings, seedlings, bare root or potted. (I never send things in pots...why pay for the excess weight, and to have this medium scattered about the box during transit).
Timing. I prefer to ship things out at the beginning of each week, so the plants don't languish over a weekend in a cold/hot dark space. This also applies to time of year. Don't send a plant to it's compost pile by sending it out during our late fall-winter-spring.
...so these are just a few of my thoughts as a person who just got back into trading CPs. It's been a long time. More thoughts later. I'd be interested to hear from others on their experience.
In the 70's, mailorder took forever, but permits were practically unheard of, and it was easy to order for flytraps and have it delivered to your front door.
It's a bit more complicated now.
I had just recently sent out an order for plants from overseas and was *surprised* at the paperwork involved. I think I will leave this thought for another post and later share my experiences here with all of you...and ask the same from the rest of you.
Packing. These days, I can safely state that it's easier now with couriers and Xpress post to ship things quickly within our nation, but there are a few things we still should be aware of. First is that the cargo hold in an airplane can get quite cold (a thousand feet up in the air is still freezing temperature...even in our summer). So it's a good idea to insulate tropical CPs with some insulation wrap. The other thing is not to leave the plant in too dry a state when shipping it out. It's best to prime the plant a few days with moisture (prior to it's uproot/cutting), and then if the plant is large enough, dip it in a fungicide solution before shipping it out. A good technique that's been used recently is to slightly dampen a paper towel and zip lock 'baggie' up the CP and moist towel to maintain the moisture for the plant to survive the long trip. But don't make the towel sopping wet...else you'd end up with rotting leaves, or worst, a rotted plant.
Cleaning. I know that some of you who have received some of my plants will laugh at me ( I hear you over here Sib!) will say my plants are a bit "dirty"...and yes, I am guilty of not cleaning my plants before shipping it out. But I do have to admit that it's nice to not get traps full of dead bugs So unless stated otherwise, it's good courtesy to clean your plants before sending them out to the recipient.
Labelling. don't forget to mark your plant - I used to use a jiffy marker to write the name of the Nep onto one of it's leaves. Yes, check your spelling. A Nep. villosa is not the same as a Nep pilosa.
Courtesy. Follow through with your agreed commitments. If you can't ship it out, or if it's delayed... communicate this to your intended trade partner. There's nothing worst then to feel that you've been "screwed".
Communications. Always agree in advance the size of the plant so you don't get in return, a tiny plant for something you just sent a massive multi-headed Cephalotus for. And indicate if the plants are cuttings, seedlings, bare root or potted. (I never send things in pots...why pay for the excess weight, and to have this medium scattered about the box during transit).
Timing. I prefer to ship things out at the beginning of each week, so the plants don't languish over a weekend in a cold/hot dark space. This also applies to time of year. Don't send a plant to it's compost pile by sending it out during our late fall-winter-spring.
...so these are just a few of my thoughts as a person who just got back into trading CPs. It's been a long time. More thoughts later. I'd be interested to hear from others on their experience.